Australia has threatened to kill Johnny Depp's two pet dogs after the actor brought them into the country on a private jet without declaring them to quarantine officials.

Australia's agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce ordered Depp to remove the two Yorkshire terriers - named Boo and Pistol - from the country within 48 hours, saying "it's time that Pistol and Boo buggered off back to the United States".

Depp (51), who is in Australia to film the latest 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie, is believed to have avoided Australia's strict quarantine rules by bringing Boo and Pistol in on his private jet to Queensland in late April.

The threat to kill the dogs sparked an angry response from animal lovers and fans of the actor, with one woman starting a petition to protect the dogs from death or expulsion.